Carpenter&#39;s stripping device



March .22, 1960 G. w. GRAEF 2,

CARPENTERS STRIPPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 3 Gilbert w. Graef 1 IN V EN TOR. BY Q05?- adMfiMg March 22, 1960 G. w. GRAEF 2,929,609

CARPENTERS STRIPPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8

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Gi/b erf W. Graaf INVENTOR.

Maaiw. BY WMQ,

CARPEN'IERS STRIPPING DEVICE Gilbert W. Graef, Lockhart, Tex.

Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,417

1 Claim. (Cl. 254-131) This invention relates to tools and more particularly to a device for stripping boards of various types and sizes without material damage to them.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for the purpose of removing old flooring, siding, and boards of any other type without damaging the boards, thereby enabling them to be reused with a maximum of salvage value.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool capable of stripping boards of all types, from buildings principally, the tool being versatile in that the handle thereof is capable of adjustment not only to suit the desires of the user, but also to be more commensurate with the particular job that is being done.

A further object of the invention is to provide a board stripping device with detachable board grip bars so that they may be substituted by bars of any size depending on the size of boards that are being stripped, each board grip bar being mounted on the frame of the device for restricted pivotal travel, and the pivotal motion of the grip bars being opposed yieldingly in one direction so as to provide a somewhat floating seat for the boards that are being stripped. In this way, the force applied to the bottom of the board is capable of shifting to an approximately perpendicular (to the plane of the board) direction for a small distance, which is usually all that is necessary to begin the removal of the board from its anchorage and thereafter separate the board without damaging it.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of the stripping device that is constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same in use;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the device in Figure 1, but showing the same apart from its work;

Figure 4 is a sectional view in enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1',

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modification of the invention, this modification involving the provision of a single bladed tool;

Figure 7 is a top view of the modification of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view of another modified form of the stripping device;

Figure 9 is a side view of the device in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a board grip bar constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the accompanying drawings there are board stripping devices constructed to exemplify the principles of the invention. The device of Figure 1 consists of a handle 10 which is mounted on a frame 12, the latter having sides 14 and 16 whose outer ends converge to a ferrule 18. This ferrule accommodates the extremity of the bandle 10, the handle being held firmly in place by means of bolts 20 that pass through aligned openings in the ferrule and in the handle 10. Either end of the handle is insertable in the ferrule, depending on the desires of the user and these will generally be dictated by the type of work which he is doing. For example, should the worker be stripping floor boards, he would use handle 10 as shown in full line in Figure 2. But if the worker were stripping siding boards from a wall, he would use the handle in the opposite position, that is, with the outer extremity 22 inserted in the ferrule, this being shown in dotted line position in Figure 2. Inasmuch as the outer end 22 is angulated, the hand gripping part of the handle will be relocated in accordance with the end that is accommodated in the ferrule.

Sides 14 and 16 of the frame have arms 24 and 26 to which there are connected means for gripping the boards that are to be stripped. These means consist of a pair of upwardly opening saddles 28 and 39 in which board gripper bars 32 and 34 are disposed. As illustrated in Figure 4, gripper bar 32 has pivot pin 38 passed through an opening 39 therein and through aligned openings in the sides of the upwardly opening saddle 28. Due to the size of the saddle and the board gripper bar 32 located in it, the board gripper bar is capable of limited pivotal movement with the saddle functioning as stops to restrict the pivotal motion thereof. In this regard, elongated spring 42, which has a shank disposed in the space between the bottom of saddle 28 and the lower surface of board gripper bar 32, functions to bias the gripper bar 32 in one direction and to yieldingly oppose pivotal movement in the other direction. The opposite end of the elongated .pring 42 has an upwardly directed hook 44 in which the lower edge of gripper bar 32 is seated at one side of the pivot 38. The motion of the board gripper bar 32 about the pivot pin 38 is restricted. This is so that the gripper bars 32 and 34 will yield slightly to provide a cushioning effect when prying the boards as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The intermediate part of the sides 14 and 16 has a transverse frame member 48, which is preferably in the form of a pin, passed therethrough and welded or other-- Wise held in place. This transverse member is adapted to seat on a floor joist 50 when the device is used to strip board 52 therefrom. In practical use of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, the worker will insert handle 10 in its ferrule and pass the bolts 20 through the aligned openings in the end of the handle (there being openings in both ends of handle 10) and in the ferrule. Then, the frame is slipped under the board 52 that is to be stripped. The sides of the frame straddle the joist 50 or other supporting structure for the board. Board grip bars 30 and 32 are slipped under board 52 until the front edge of the board abuts the stops 58 at the front ends of the board grip bars. The bars 32 and 34 are interchangeable with bars of varying lengths, depending on the type of job that is being done and, more particularly, the width of the boards that are to be removed. After slipping the frame under the board 52 as shown in Figure 2, handle 10 is pried, thereby rocking the device about the transverse member 48 as a fulcrum and lifting upwardly on the board, with the board grip bars pivoting and yielding slightly while the initial force is applied to the board. This prevents boards from being damaged in their removal.

Attention is now invited to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7. This embodiment is used to remove corner joists or beams and in the same way as the double bladed tool. However, it may be made cheaper. In instances where there are spliced boards, the double bladed tool is suggested, because it 7' Board grip bar 32, or an equivalent barfisadapted to beinserted in saddle 68 that is connected to'the frame side 62; Saddle 68is' substantially U-shaped and has a pivot pin 70 in aligned openings in the, side walls thereof on which "tom'ount boardgrip bar 32 or a like bar for use identicalto that described in connection with the previous embodiment.

Attention, is now. invited to Figures 8 and 9 where another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment has a frame practically identical to frame 12, frame 76'of Figures 8 and 9 differing in the crosssectional shape of the ferrule 78. Instead of being in the'shape of segments of a. cylinder, the sides 89 and 821are fiat and have bolts '84. and 86 passed through aligned openings, therein.

bolt 84 and having its extremities bearing respectively on dog'85. and side 80. The bias of the spring 87 is directed in such way as to. pivot dog 85 against the teeth 88 of ratchet wheel 90, Ratchet wheel-90 is fixed to handle 92, and the latter is mounted on pivot bolt 86. Accordingly, the position of handle 92 is adjustable in ac orda c iththe desires. of. t e. r- Due to h bias of the spring 87, the dog 85 will not become inadvertently or undesirably separated from the teeth 88 of; the ratchet wheel 90. The. lower part of frame 76 is identical in.all particulars of both structure and func tion to the lower part ofthe frame12 and includes the 7 Bolt 84.has a pawl or dog 85 mounted thereon, with spring 87 coiled around pivot "angle to the first arm, and an intermediate portion rigidly connecting the first and second arms together, a transverse fulcrum pin provided in'th'e interme'diate portion of said frame, an actuating handle provided on said second'arrn, a transversepivot pin provided onsaid first arm, a board engaging bar having an intermediate portion thereof mountedon' said pivot pin in juxtaposed relation to and in substantial longitudinal alignment with 7 ed in said saddle and operatively engaging the lower board grip bars, means to support them, and the other T allied structure. Accordingly, the operation of this part of the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 is identical to the operation of the previous embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily'occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and longitudinal edge of said bar at a point spaced longitudinally outwardly from the pivot pin, said handle being maintained in a fixed angular relation to said second arm and having the second arm movable unitarily therewith during exertion of working force on thefhandle,

together with means adjustably connecting the handle to the. second arm whereby the angular relationship thereof during exertion of working forcemay'be fixed at a predetermined angle, said means comprising a transverse pivot element provided'o'n said second arm and having one end portion of said handle mounted thereon, a ratchet secured to and movable with said handle coaxially about said pivot element, and a pawl pivoted to said second arm and operatively engaging said ratchet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 7 668,605 Rust Feb. 19, 1901 944,958 Eberline et a1 Dec. 28, 1909 2,195,667 Baker Apr. 2, 1940 2,520,427 Nelson Aug. 29, 1950. 2,779,567 Kohler Jan. 29, 1957 

